How Pittsburgh Scouts Can Assist Haitian Relief Efforts

A message from the Boy Scouts of America...
{Please contact cubscouts661@verizon.net if interested in coordinating or participating}

While our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti, as Scouts who are always ready to lend a helping hand, our minds wonder what can I do to help?

Rescue efforts are currently underway by professionals trained in disasters. The immediate need is for emergency supplies that have to be purchased. The Boy Scouts of America is partnered with the American Red Cross (WWW.redcross.org) and locally the Greater Pittsburgh Council is partnered with the Brothers Brother Foundation (WWW.brothersbrother.org) for cash donations.

How can our unit help immediately?

Until the end of February, Scout units are encouraged to collect items for "Care Buckets" that will be shipped to Haiti. Scouting has partnered with the Brothers Brother Foundation because of their ability to deliver the buckets to Haiti in addition to their ethical reputation and strong track record with international relief efforts.

A flier (
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5k0hBI_aOFRN2E1MTUxOTgtNjZkNC00NmE3LTljNGYtMjFjMWE5ZTFkMDZl&hl=en) describes the items to be collected along with suggested collection methods and information on where to deliver the filled buckets.

This project ends on February 26 so start NOW!

How your unit can help in the future...
Donations to the World Friendship Fund can be designated to help the Scouts in Haiti with long term rebuilding projects. Please consider asking for contributions during your Blue & Gold banquets, Courts of Honor, leader meetings, roundtables, Klondike derbies or other Scouting events.

As it becomes available, information will continue to be posted on the Council website (http://WWW.gpc-bsa.org) on ways Scouting can help with the relief efforts. We are in the preliminary planning stages of allocating some of the Scouting for Food collections to the people of Haiti. This would require a huge effort by all Scouts to redouble our collection efforts and set new records for food donations!

More information:
Boy Scouts of America response to Haiti: http://scouting.org/AlertHaiti.aspx
World Scout Bureau Haiti Solidarity Blog: www.scout.org/blogs